Hello,

My name is Leo, I live in The Netherlands. Altough I often read the items on this web site I never post a question.
Recently I bought 2 Chris Craft 283 engines (one right, one left). I am very excited to finally have these historical engines ! I will use one of these engines for a 20 foot barrelback I am currently building.
I am still strugling with some questions. I am shure this is the way to get the answers. I hope one of you can help. One of the engine is a 283HR025 #826876 TRANS #HF7B25-L283. What I can't figure out is the meaning of the number 025 (after HR). Attached to the motor is a Paragon hydraulic reverse transmission and a Paragon reduction gear. The reduction gear is probably matched to the boat hull/prop of the boat the came out. I would appreciate information about the serial number #HF7B25-L283.
Where can I find information how to install the 283 in the boat I am building with respect to the use of a reduction (or not), prop and shaft size etc.
Any suggestions are welcome. Thanks !!
(hope my English is not to bad)

We're glad to have you as a reader and participant, and we offer you a big WELCOME ABOARD !

Right off hand it looks like you have a 283 V8 with a 2.5:1 reduction gear.
The CC motor tag (with Chris Craft logo and their own Chris Craft serial number) will normally have the type of transmission called out in sort of a code. That 25 you are seeing most likely indicates the 2.5 gear reduction, which if left in the boat, would make you want to use a much larger size prop, both in diameter and pitch, than a direct drive.

A 20' barrelback would take a direct drive normally, and your transmissions may well be able to be adapted to this. Some paragons can, others can't. With direct drive I would think you would be spinning a 13x14 prop, or something close to that, perhaps a 12x15, but my first starting point would be a 13x13 just to see how it worked on the rpm band. I doubt if you will be able to spin the bigger props with the stock 185-hp.

Send us some photos, we'll help any way we can.

Regards,

Paul

Hi,

Thanks for your reply !
The manuals of the engine finally came in so I learned more. After some discussion with Barrelback owners they adviced me to use the engine with direct drive (as you also suggested). If it's possible (!) I will try to reconfigure the drive into a direct drive.
What kind of adaptions to the hydraulic reverse drive can I expect when I remove the gear reduction. Are the necessary parts still available or do I have a problem ?
Thanks again for your help.

Leo

I am working on the photo's

I never really paid all that much attention to the conversion factor, but I think some models can be converted to direct drive by simply pulling off the reduction pod, which is a bolted on section at the rear of the transmission. Better not take my word for it, and check with Marine Gear or someone who knows these old work horse industrial boxes. If not, the reduction transmission will make a great door stop that nobody (in their right mind) will be able to pick up! They are HEAVY!

In the end, you may be better off just getting a good 1:1 box intended for your boat.

Tom

Hi,

After some research I learned that it is not possible to convert the transmission to a direct drive. So I am searching for a replacement transmission. Thanks for the help.

Regards

Leo

Hee Leo
Ook een dolgelukkige bezitter van de 283 en stom toevallig uit Nederland. Ik heb ook zo een motor uit de H serie en ben ook op zoek naar meer informatie mogelijk moeten wij elkaar eens spreken. Twee weten immers meer dan één. Ik ben op zoek naar informatie over de startmotor welke bij mijn motor ontbreekt. Deze motor komt in mijn in eigen beheer gebouwde runaboat op basis van de Craft-Riviera uit 1962 het design is wel aangepast naar de wat meer Italiaanse stijl als je wilt stuur ik je wel wat fotomateriaal. Over de motor, deze gaan we deze winter helemaal nazien en daar waar nodig van nieuwe onderdelen voorzien. Hierbij is technische informatie natuurlijk van belang ik heb al een Parts List gevonden en nog wat andere info maar wie weet heb jij ook nog informatie.

Vriendelijke groet
Fred

This Forum is beamed around the world and from time to time we do a translation like this........here are Mr. Meulenkamps's comments in English.


"Also a dolgelukkige owner of the 283 and stupidly by chance from the Netherlands. I have also so a motor from the H series and am also on missing to more information possible must we each other once speak. Two knowledge after all more than one. I am on missing to information over the start motor which by my motor is missing. This motor comes is well adapted do object not to steer in my in own management built runaboat on basis of the Craft-Riviera from 1962 the design to the a little more Italian style as you I yourself what photograph material. Over the motor, these, we will revise this winter totally and foresee there where necessarily of new parts. Hereby is technical information naturally by interest I have already a Parts Ruse found and yet what other info only who knowledge have you also yet information."


For Leo and Fred,

if you will send photos or restate what you need, we'll help any way we can.

Regards,

Paul
Forum moderator

Here is the transmission from my 327F, which I am NOT sure will fit your H motor, and I believe it will NOT fit your H.

http://www.network54.com/Forum/424840/message/1177901052


Here is a photo of my H motor in a 1956 Chris Craft speedboat I also own, and you can see there is a big difference between the 283H and the 327F or 283F. It does, however, look amazingly similar to the transmissions Chris Craft used on their flathead Hercules motors (see below) but those have a different bolt pattern to fit onto the V*.


Of interest, I am showing a Model K Hercules motor here, and note how similar the transmission is to the one on the V8 283 motor. The V8 motor has an aluminum transmission case. I believe the flathead Hercules is iron, although I don’t recall ever seeing what is under the blue paint. The bolt pattern is different from the Hercules 6 to the Chevrolet V8.



I can tell you, that the Hercules and the V8 283 were set up to fit onto the same engine stringers, at almost the exact same bolt pattern, and the transmission on the H motor will fit EXACTLY where the Hercules one was. Been there, done that, it fits!

Good luck! Let me know if you need any detail photos of my 283H (which is now actually a 327H)

Regards,
Paul